Vernon Davis again a force in playoffs

49ers beat

Updated 11:44 am, Monday, January 21, 2013

Michael Crabtree steps over Asante Samuel on a reception. Crabtree played two days after being questioned by San Francisco police in a sex-assault case.

Michael Crabtree steps over Asante Samuel on a reception. Crabtree played two days after being questioned by San Francisco police in a sex-assault case.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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Vernon Davis had triple-digit receiving yards for only the second time this season. He had 106 yards against Buffalo on Oct. 7.

Vernon Davis had triple-digit receiving yards for only the second time this season. He had 106 yards against Buffalo on Oct. 7.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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Wide receiver Michael Crabtree #15, running back Frank Gore #21 and tight end Vernon Davis #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after the 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 28-24 in the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on January 20, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. less

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree #15, running back Frank Gore #21 and tight end Vernon Davis #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after the 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 28-24 in the NFC Championship ... more

Photo: Streeter Lecka, Getty Images

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San Francisco 49ers Tight end Vernon Davis (85) runs through an attempted tackle in the first half of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA., on Sunday January 20, 2013. less

San Francisco 49ers Tight end Vernon Davis (85) runs through an attempted tackle in the first half of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome in ... more

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh hugs Vernon Davis after the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, in Atlanta. The 49ers won 28-24 to advance to Super Bowl XLVII. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh hugs Vernon Davis after the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, in Atlanta. The 49ers won 28-24 to advance to Super

For the second time in two seasons, San Francisco's tight end - quiet in the 2012 regular season - delivered in one of the season's biggest games, collecting five catches for 106 yards and a touchdown in a 28-24 win over the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game.

Davis tied Indianapolis' Dallas Clarkfor the second-most 100-yard receiving games (three) by a tight end in NFL postseason history. Davis also became the sixth player in league history with three 100-yard performances in his first four playoff games.

Last season, Davis had 180 yards and two touchdowns in a playoff win over the Saints and followed that with 112 yards and two more scores against the Giants.

"The tight end was the issue," Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. "... We did not cover the tight end as well as needed to."

In his previous seven games, Davis had seven catches for 105 yards and no touchdowns. Davis said he watched Atlanta's divisional-playoff win over Seattle multiple times, focusing on Seahawks tight end Zach Miller, who had eight catches for 142 yards against the Falcons.

DeBartolo is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He said he doesn't expect to get in but hopes that Haley, who won five Super Bowl rings with the 49ers and Cowboys, makes it this year. DeBartolo said that Haley told him Sunday that, if he makes it, he would like his former owner to present him in Canton.

"I've got goose bumps," DeBartolo said of Haley's request.

York emotional: The owner said he calmed himself in his suite by holding his baby, Jax. York said that being with his family - parents, sisters, wife, baby and uncle Eddie - was one of the reasons he broke down in tears during a postgame television interview.

"It's about the entire family," said York, who was in eighth grade when the 49ers played in their last Super Bowl "It's my uncle being here and giving the Halas Trophy to my Mom. It's what it's all about."

Briefly: Colin Kaepernick has reached the Super Bowl with the third-fewest starts (nine) of any quarterback. The Giants' Jeff Hostetlerand the Rams' Vince Ferragamo had four and five starts, respectively. ... Stanford head coach David Shawwas on the field before the game. He's on the road for a recruiting trip. ... Linebacker NaVorro Bowman on Harbaugh's emotional reaction when a 22-yard catch by Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglaswasn't overturned: "That's Harbaugh. If he's not intense, we're going to send him to the hospital or the doctor or something."

Playoff performer

Niners tight end Vernon Davis has been at his best in the playoffs. Here's what he has done in the four postseason games the past two years:

Kirksey said that the 35-year-old victim is in stable condition and that it is unclear "if anyone involved in the altercation attended the game." He added that the Georgia Dome and Atlanta police "are investigating the incident."

WSB-TV reported a Falcons fan and a 49ers fan argued after game and the Atlanta fan punched the San Francisco fan, who pulled out a knife. They reported one of the two was stabbed in the neck.

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